Petrol price hits another new high

The price of petrol has soared to a new record high just as the great Christmas getaway begins - with even more pain in the pipeline for Britain's 33m drivers.

Pain at the pump: There is a growing feeling of helplessness among drivers

The average price has risen from last week's record of 121.76p a litre to 122.14p. It means it is now selling at the equivalent of £5.55 a gallon.

UK petrol car owners are now spending £8m a day more on fuel than a year ago.

The AA urged the Government to scrap the scheduled 1p a litre tax rise in January - and the automatic annual 'inflation plus 1p' fuel duty hike - while global prices are so high.

It has accused oil giants and fuel retailers of 'profiteering' against a background of rising wholesale fuel and oil prices - charges they deny.

The increases mean that, compared with this time last year, the cost of filling an average family car with a 50-litre petrol tank has risen from £54.26 to £61.07. And for a two car family, the monthly cost of petrol has risen from £230.41 a year ago to £259.35.

Prices at motorway service stations are as high as 129.9p - or a whopping £5.90½ per gallon. Diesel ranges from 124.9p to 132.9p - or £6.04 a gallon.

Average petrol prices have gone up by 3.06p a litre between mid-November and mid-December, said the AA.

They will rise even higher in the new year when the duty rise is imposed, as well as the higher rate of VAT, which goes up by 2.5% to 20%. Diesel, which is still some way off its all-time high, has risen 3.12p a litre over the past four weeks and now costs an average 126.19p. A 50-litre tank has risen from £54.93 to £63.10.

Regionally, London and South-East England have the most expensive average petrol price, at 122.7p a litre, while Scotland and Wales have the dearest diesel, at 126.7p.

In remoter areas, such as northern Scotland, prices can be more than 130p a litre - 129.9p in Ullapool and 133.9p in Stornoway. Diesel there now costs around 135p a litre.

Before last week's now exceeded record was set, the previous highest price for petrol was 121.61p, on May 12. The record for diesel is 133.25p, set on July 17, 2008.

AA president Edmund King said: 'This is a bleak midwinter for millions of drivers. Two-thirds of drivers are cutting back on journeys, cutting back on other expenditure, or cutting back on both.

'It is the lower-income drivers who suffer first and hardest, and that is why the Government should not add further to their misery by increasing both duty and VAT on fuel in the new year.'

Mr King added: 'If current prices persist, the new year increase in fuel duty and VAT will push petrol prices up to 124p a litre.'